Return To Forever: The Anthology
CD Review of Jazz/Rock Fusion Song Collection Spanning Four Albums
May 9, 2009
A collection of songs from four albums by the jazz/rock fusion innovators Return To Forever are documented on The Anthology.
The Founding of Return To Forever
Return To Forever was formed in 1972 with founding members Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Flora Purim, Joe Farrell, and Airto Moreira. The jazz/rock fusion band featured the intense melodic energy of pianist Chick Corea and electric bassist Stanley Clarke, and the fresh Brazilian ideas of Purim, Moreira and Farrell. They released their debut self-titled debut that same year.
The group’s first hit, Light As A Feather, went on to become a milestone in the jazz/rock fusion era of the 1970s. The set featured such songs as “Spain,” “500 Miles High” and “Captain Marvel.”
Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy - 1973
After Purim, Moreira and Farrell left the group, a subsequent incarnation of the band featured drummer Lenny White and guitarist Billy Connors. With Chick pushing his Fender Rhodes to new limits of intensity and amped up past Connors’ electric guitar, a new sound emerged that would inspire legions of fans for decades to come. In 1973, RTF recorded Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy solidifying their place in jazz/rock fusion history.
With the rigors of the road haunting Connors’ commitment to the band, guitarist Earl Klugh was hired as a replacement until auditions could be held for a permanent replacement. The word went out that Chick Corea was seeking a permanent replacement for Connors. Nineteen year old Al DiMeola, a student at Berklee College of Music, was in the audience at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston that spring night in 1974, and witnessed Earl Klugh in Connors’ place.
As the story unfolds, a friend of DiMeola’s named Mike Buyukas sent Corea a recording of DiMeola playing with the Barry Miles Quartet. That summer Chick called DiMeola and the most rewarding guitar chair in the world was now DiMeola’s as a permanent member of Return To Forever.
Where Have I Known You Before - 1974
An avid fan of RTF, DiMeola had memorized all of Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy before joining the band! However it was his debut on Where Have I Known You Before that sealed the musical language of the band through its use of the symphonic suite, tone poems and the concerto. “Vulcan Worlds” “Shadow of Lo” and “Song to the Pharoah” become signature pieces in the band’s amazing repertoire.
However, the versatility, beauty and refinement of DiMeola’s guitar calls and Corea’s Fender Rhodes responses on “Beyond the Seventh Galaxy” and their later tandem interplay remains among the greatest instrumentation of their careers.
No Mystery – 1975
“Dayride,” “Sofistifunk,” “No Mystery,” and “Celebration Suite Parts 1 and 2” kick off the second disc of The Anthology. On the title track, the splendor of their acoustic set comes from the beauty of Corea’s exceptional piano grace, DiMeola’s flamenco-infused guitar strumming and Stanley Clarke’s exceptional pizzicato and bowed bass - all gently comped by White’s "cymbalism" and brushwork.
"No Mystery" brought legions of classical fans into their fold, enamored by the gentle grace and sophistication of this lovely song.
By contrast, “Celebration Parts 1 and 2” is an upbeat exploration of Corea’s glorious Spanish heritage that courses throughout Part 1 with the finesse of a Spanish matador avoiding his predator. In certain sections, White’s impeccable drumming matches note-for-note with Corea’s keyboard flurries making this an exciting and brilliant display of their passion and fire.
Al DiMeola’s playing on this song is without question some of the best guitar playing you’ll ever hear. Stanley Clarke’s reputation as electric bass player was crystallized here and he remains the most innovative jazz bassist on the jazz scene to this day. The Grammy Award went to No Mystery in 1975 for the Best Jazz Album and remains one of RTF’s most exciting recordings and still defies competitors and imitations to this date.
Romantic Warrior- 1976
It’s hard to fathom that RTF only recorded four albums during the incarnation of its existence with Corea, Clarke, White and DiMeola. Romantic Warrior, recorded on Columbia, featured compositions by all four members including the tone poem “The Romantic Warrior.” Certified gold, this recording was to become the group’s best seller and features some of the most masterful work by each member.
Stanley Clarke’s acoustic bass playing became legendary during his solo on “The Romantic Warrior” exceeding heights never before unleashed. DiMeola introduced guitar licks still unmatched to this day as he plays directly to a lover’s heartstrings. Corea’s solo is impeccable, stylish, sleek and is filled with the lovely trademarks that are his alone. White unleashes the consummate rock drumming that made him a hot property for years to come.
“Duel of the Jester & Tyrant Parts 1 and 2” concludes The Anthology CD. This suite is in one word – awesome.
Return To Forever Reunion- 2008
After disbanding in 1976, the group’s members went on to success with individual projects and recordings. For the third and final version of RTF, Clarke remained, Farrell returned, and drummer Gerry Brown and vocalist Gayle Moran were enlisted. In addition, Corea brought aboard a four-piece brass section. That group recorded the 1977 Musicmagic album and toured throughout the year, documented by the album R.T.F. Live.
The group joined up for a quartet concert in 1983, and after a touring absence of more than 25 years, the potent jazz-rock flagship quartet edition of Return to Forever returned in 2008. The international reunion tour in 2008 produced sold-out concerts around the world and thrust Return To Forever back into the international spotlights. Upcoming concerts featuring Corea, Clarke and White are scheduled in Los Angeles this summer. Let’s just hope that DiMeola is there too! For more information about Return To Forever, log on to www.chickcorea.com
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